Albert de Courville

Albert Pierre de Courville (26 March 1887 – March 1960; born in Croydon, England) was a writer and director of theatrical revues, many of which featured the actress and singer Shirley Kellogg, whom he married in June 1913. He began his career as a journalist and later in his career got into filmmaking.

Career

In about 1907 he began work in London as a journalist with the Evening News. A good reporter, he was soon earning as much as £20 a week, but thought there were more possibilities, and money, in the theatre.

He joined forces with London impresario Sir Edward Moss and staged revues at the London Hippodrome. In 1914 his revue Business as Usual featured several patriotic numbers following the outbreak of the First World War including "Are we Downhearted?" and "When We've Wound Up the Watch on the Rhine".

In the 1930s he turned to making films. His two most famous films, both featuring Jessie Matthews were There Goes the Bride (1932) and The Midshipmaid (1932). He also directed The Wrecker, an adaptation of Arnold Ridley’s play of the same name, and Seven Sinners (1936).

Personal life

In June 1913, he married actress and singer Shirley Kellogg. They divorced in 1924.

He and the actress Edith Kelly married in 1927. There were fears that this marriage would not happen as de Courville was in hospital before the marriage. De Courville recovered sufficiently to allow the marriage to happen on 26 May at a registry office.

Selected filmography

Year Title Director Writer Notes 1930 Wolves 1931 77 Park Lane 77 Rue Chalgrin 1932 Entre noche y día Under the Leather Helmet Original title:Sous le casque de cuir There Goes the Bride The Midshipmaid Between Night and Day 1933 This Is the Life 1934 Wild Boy 1935 Things Are Looking Up The Case of Gabriel Perry Charing Cross Road 1936 Seven Sinners Strangers on Honeymoon 1937 Clothes and the Woman 1938 The Rebel Son uncredited Star of the Circus Oh Boy! Crackerjack 1939 The Lambeth Walk 1940 An Englishman's Home